| Jordan Carstens | |
| Number: | 67 |
| Position: | Defensive tackle |
| Birth Date: | January 22, 1981 |
| Birth Place: | Carroll, Iowa, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Weight Lbs: | 300 |
| Height In: | 5 |
| College: | Iowa St. |
| Undraftedyear: | 2004 |
| Pastteams: | |
| Highlights: | |
| Statlabel1: | Tackles |
| Statvalue1: | 51 |
| Statlabel2: | Sacks |
| Statvalue2: | 4.0 |
| Statlabel3: | Forced fumbles |
| Statvalue3: | 1 |
| Pfr: | CarsJo20 |
Jordan Lee Carstens (born January 22, 1981) is a former American football defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He was an undrafted free agent out of Iowa State University. Jordan, a native of Bagley, Iowa, farms and enjoys hunting during his time away from the NFL.[1]
Carstens attended Panorama High School in Panora, Iowa. He was a two-year letterman in football and earned third-team All-State honors from the Des Moines Register as a senior.
In 1999, Jordan walked-on at the 105th spot, which was the last spot for the two-a-days roster, on the Iowa State Cyclones football team, was red-shirted, and became the defensive scout team's player of the year.[2]
In 2000 as a freshman defensiveman, Jordan earned academic first-team All Big 12 Conference honors.[3]
In 2001 as a sophomore defensive tackle with 71 tackles (40 solo), he was selected to the third-team Big 12 Conference team, was an academic first-team All Big 12 Conference, was a CoSIDA/GTE District VII first-team Academic All-American, and was a second-team Verizon Academic All-American with a GPA of 3.52.[4] [5]
In 2002 as a junior defensive tackle with 97 tackles (a team high 13 for loss) and 6 sacks, he was co-captain of the ISU football team, earned a spot on the second-team All Big 12 Conference squad and the academic first-team All Big 12 Conference squad, was a CoSIDA/GTE District VII first-team Academic All-American, and was a first-team Verizon Academic All-American.[6] [7] [8]
In 2003 as a senior defensive tackle, he was co-captain of the ISU football team and was a CoSIDA/GTE District VII first-team Academic All-American, a first-team Verizon Academic All-American, a first-team All-Big 12 Conference defensive lineman, and an academic first-team All Big 12 Conference scholar.[9] [10]
Jordan earned a degree from Iowa State University majoring in Agricultural Business and finished his collegiate football career with 306 tackles (23 for loss) and 10 sacks.
Over the 2004–2006 seasons as a defensive lineman with the Carolina Panthers, Jordan played in 29 games and had 50 tackles (35 solo), 4 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.[11]
Carstens would eventually have to retire as a player due to kidney-related health problems. He often returns to Panora, Iowa, where he attended high school, to give speeches to the Panorama Panthers football team.